RTI reveals large number of tiger deaths in Madhya Pradesh

An application was filed with the forest department of Madhya Pradesh under the Right to Information (RTI) Act seeking to get the details of the deaths of tigers in the state in past five years.

The reply to the application states that though the state has a total population of 257 tigers in six tiger reserves in the state, as many as 58 tigers have died in past five years. The causes of the deaths include poaching, territorial fights, accidents, diseases and ageing. The reply shows that 9 tigers out of 58 died due to poaching.

Year wise, largest number of tiger deaths (18) occurred during 2009, followed by 13 in 2012, 12 in 2010 and 9 in 2011. Six tigers have died in 2013 between January and May. Out of these, three cases of deaths due to poaching were registered in 2009 and 2012 while 2010, 2011 and 2013 witnessed one tiger each dying because of poaching. Out of these nine tigers, five died due to electrocution, three due to poisoning and one tiger succumbed to the injuries due to trap laid by poachers.